Pour-spout closure for flexible packages, and flexible packages including a pour-spout closure

Abstract

An interlocking pour-spout closure for a flexible, gusseted package and a flexible gusseted package including such a closure. The package is formed of a flexible material and includes a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of opposed side gussets. The package is initially sealed, e.g., by a peelable seal line. The panels and gussets each include a top portion. The package also includes a pour-through mouth, e.g., a portion of the panels and one side gusset is arranged to be removed from the remainder of the package. The pour-through mouth is located at the top of the package at one of the side gussets and is arranged to be opened by the pour-spout closure to provide access to the contents of the package. The closure includes a pair of closure sections hingedly secured to each other and each section includes a cut-away portion. Each of the closure sections is arranged to be secured to a respective one of the package's panels, with respective cut-away portions disposed over the at least a portion of the pour-through mouth of the package. The closure sections are arranged to disposed in a confronting releasably secured relationship with each other with portions of the first and second panels and the gussets contiguous with the package's mouth tightly interposed therebetween to close the pour-through mouth, but can be pivoted about the hinge into a non-confronting relationship, whereupon the pour-through mouth is opened so that the material within the package can be poured therethrough.

We claim: 
     
       1. In combination a gusseted package having an interior for holding material therein and a pour-spout closure therefor, said package being formed of a flexible material and comprising first and second panels connected to each other by respective side gussets, each of said panels having an upper end portion, at least a portion of which conjoin to form a pour-through mouth for said package, said pour-through mouth being openable from a closed state to an open state to enable material within said interior of said package to be poured out of said package, said pour-spout closure being arranged for opening and closing said pour-through mouth and comprising a first closure section and a second closure section pivotably coupled together along a hinge joint, said first closure section including a first cut-away portion contiguous with said hinge joint and being arranged to be located on said first panel with said first cut-away portion being disposed over at least a portion of said pour-through mouth, said second closure section including a second cut-away portion contiguous with said hinge joint arranged to be located on said second panel with said second cut-away portion being disposed over at least a portion of said pour-through mouth, said first and second closure sections being elongated substantially planar members extending substantially the width of said first and second panels, respectively, and being arranged to be pivoted about said hinge joint towards each other into a confronting, releasably secured relationship, whereupon portions of said first and second panels and said side gussets contiguous with said pour-through mouth are tightly interposed therebetween, said first and second closure sections also being arranged to be pivoted about said hinge joint away from each other into a non-confronting substantially coplanar relationship with each other, whereupon said pour-through mouth is opened so that the material within the package can be poured therethrough. 
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first and second closure sections are fixedly secured to said first and second panels, respectively. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pour-spout closure is separate from said package, said combination including means for mounting said pour-spout closure on said package with said first and second closure sections located on said first and second panels, respectively. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 1 wherein one of said first and second closure sections includes at least a first connector element and wherein the other of said first and second closure sections includes at least a second connector element, and wherein said at least said first and second connector elements are arranged to be releasably snap-fit together. 
     
     
       5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said package includes a portion contiguous with the top portion of said first and second panels which is cut away to form said pour-through mouth. 
     
     
       6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said package includes a portion contiguous with the top portion of said first and second panels which is arranged to be removed along a sever line to form said pour-through mouth. 
     
     
       7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said sever line is weakened to enable portions of the package contiguous therewith to be torn away to form said pour-through mouth. 
     
     
       8. The combination of claim 1 additionally comprising an initial seal line located adjacent said top portion of said package and extending across the width of said package for initially sealing the material within the interior of the package. 
     
     
       9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said initial seal line is arranged to be peeled apart to separate said first and second panels. 
     
     
       10. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said closure sections includes a projecting tab portion arranged to be grasped to enable said first and second closure sections to be moved from their confronting relationship to their non-confronting relationship. 
     
     
       11. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said panels includes a projecting tab portion arranged to be grasped to enable said first and second closure sections to be moved from their confronting relationship to their non-confronting relationship. 
     
     
       12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cut-away portion of said first and second closure sections includes a linear edge and an arcuate edge, said arcuate edge of said first cut-away portion being arranged to be located immediately adjacent said arcuate edge of said second cut-away portion. 
     
     
       13. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said elongated closure sections includes a pair of opposed side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge, and wherein each of said cut-away portions is located contiguous with one of said opposed side edges and a contiguous portion of said top edge. 
     
     
       14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said cut-away portion of said first and second closure sections includes a linear edge and an arcuate edge, said linear edge extending generally parallel to said top edge and said arcuate edge extending from said linear edge to said top edge. 
     
     
       15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said arcuate edge of said first cut-away portion is arranged to be located immediately adjacent said arcuate edge of said second cut-away portion. 
     
     
       16. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pour-through opening is located at said upper portion of said package contiguous with one of said side gussets, wherein each of said elongated closure sections includes a pair of opposed side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge, and wherein each of said cut-away portions is located contiguous with one of said opposed side edges and a contiguous portion of said top edge. 
     
     
       17. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pour spout closure is molded of a plastic material. 
     
     
       18. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pour spout closure is molded of a plastic material. 
     
     
       19. A pour-spout closure for use on a gusseted flexible package, the package being formed of a flexible material and comprising first and second panels connected to each other by respective side gussets, each of the panels having an upper end portion, at least a portion of which conjoin to form a pour-through mouth for the package, the pour-through mouth being openable from a closed state to an open state to enable material within the interior of the package to be poured out of the package, said pour-spout closure being arranged for closing and opening the pour-through mouth and comprising a first closure section and second closure section pivotably coupled together along a hinge joint, said first closure section including a first cut-away portion contiguous with said hinge joint and arranged to be located on the first panel with said first cut-away portion being disposed over at least a portion of the pour-through mouth, said second closure section including a second cut-away portion contiguous with said hinge joint and arranged to be located on the second panel with said second cut-away portion being disposed over at least a portion of the pour-through mouth, said first and second sections being elongated members extending substantially the width of the first and second panels, respectively, said first and second closure sections being arranged to be pivoted about said hinge joint towards each other into a confronting, releasably secured relationship, whereupon portions of the first and second panels and the side gussets contiguous with the pour-through mouth are tightly interposed therebetween, said first and second closure sections also being arranged to be pivoted about said hinge joint away from each other into a non-confronting substantially coplanar relationship with each other, whereupon the pour-through mouth is opened so that the material within the package can be poured therethrough. 
     
     
       20. The pour-spout closure of claim 19 additionally comprising means for fixedly securing said first and second closure sections to the first and second panels, respectively. 
     
     
       21. The pour-spout closure of claim 20 wherein one of said first and second closure sections includes at least a first connector element and wherein the other of said first and second closure sections includes at least a second connector element, and wherein said at least said first and second connector elements are arranged to be releasably snap-fit together. 
     
     
       22. The pour-spout closure of claim 20 wherein each of said closure sections includes a projecting tab portion arranged to be grasped to enable said first and second closure sections to be moved from their confronting relationship to their non-confronting relationship. 
     
     
       23. The pour-spout closure of claim 22 wherein said cut-away portion of said first and second closure sections includes a linear edge and an arcuate edge, said arcuate edge of said first cutaway portion being arranged to be located immediately adjacent said arcuate edge of said second cutaway portion. 
     
     
       24. The pour-spout closure of claim 23 wherein each of said closure sections includes a projecting tab portion arranged to be grasped to enable said first and second closure sections to be moved from their confronting relationship to their non-confronting relationship. 
     
     
       25. The pour-spout closure of claim 24 wherein each of said elongated closure sections includes a pair of opposed side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge, and wherein each of said cut-away portions is located contiguous with one of said opposed side edges and a contiguous portion of said top edge. 
     
     
       26. The pour spout closure of claim 19 wherein said pour spout closure is molded of a plastic material.